Biography —

Septura brings together London’s leading players to redefine brass chamber music through the uniquely expressive sound of the brass septet.

Septura was born out of a passion for the awe-inspiring sound of brass instruments. The ensemble’s creation – the brass septet – is uniquely vibrant and versatile, and Septura aims to harness its intense emotional power to produce transformative musical experiences for audiences. In short, it is pioneering a simple message: music sounds better on brass.

To fulfil its mission Septura has brought together the very best brass players in the UK – holding principal positions in the Royal Philharmonic, London Symphony, BBC Symphony and Philharmonia orchestras – and with their unparalleled skill and virtuosity the ensemble has forged a chamber group described as “dazzlingly polished” (BBC Music Magazine), and now firmly established as one of the best in the world.

Artistic Directors, Simon Cox and Matthew Knight, are two of the most preeminent and prolific arrangers for brass, and together they have created a diverse counterfactual canon: re-imagining great music of the past for brass, and addressing historical imbalances by putting a spotlight on under-represented composers. Looking to the future, Septura is commissioning leading composers such as Roxanna Panufnik to create a rich repertoire of original music for brass septet.

Weaving its ever-increasing repertoire into vivid and captivating live events, Septura continues to break down barriers with musical and cross-arts collaborations, recently working with artists ranging from Cathy Tyson and Derek Jacobi to John Rutter and The Sixteen. The ensemble takes its inimitable innovative programming around the world, touring in Europe, Japan and the USA, as well as performing at the UK’s most prestigious festivals and venues, including regular appearances at London’s Wigmore Hall.

Septura records regular releases for Naxos Records, and the first nine discs have received widespread critical acclaim, described variously as “irresistible” (The Observer), “exceptional” (The Arts Desk) and “brass playing at its most exalted” (Fanfare). Its next recording will highlight the music of female composers, past and present.

Currently Ensemble in Residence at the Royal Academy of Music, London, in 2023 Septura will launch its first residential Summer Brass Academy in collaboration with the Rudolfus Foundation to inspire future generations of brass players. Their outreach work also includes close collaboration with the Amber Trust, through which they introduce the power of brass instruments to blind and partially-sighted children.